“Hi Pete,

The money i will get back from insurance is nearly half what i originally paid out in only March this year. That means i have lost £1k straight away, So even if the supplier would be willing to sell another I can only dream of affording it again.

I would get a standard motorbike however due to my disability I cannot balance nor hold up a two wheeler with my leg/spine problem.

The only thing I have been able to look into is possibley buying a two wheel bike and getting a conversion but the issue is finding anyone out there that will do it. Lowest I have found is no lower than £2k for the conversion. Which brings me back to square one.

I totally agree with you about the system, its useless. I was talking to a neighbour and he told me that his van was torched outside his own home...and NOTHING was done about that either.

No CCTV has been put into place anywhere in the area so i may as well have handed over the keys myself and drenched it in fuel just as an added "there ya go mate".

Its pathetic and really heartbreaking to know that nothing is being done.

Im sure after a year or two I will be able to put aside a bit of savings to deal with this problem and replace the trike but for now ill have to stick to day time travelling on buses with my pass.”

“I empathise with you Matt, I really do.
People, every day suffer as a result of our poor and ineffective judicial system. The system is totally counterproductive and will ultimately lead to the demise of what is left of a healthy society.
Police officers are either afraid to do or are restricted from doing their jobs effectively. Prisons are so overcrowded that the CPS and courts are opting not to prosecute people anymore.
Ultimately - the state is breeding scum, paying for the scum to survive, then picking up the tab to keep them locked up! With free money, very little prospect of any form of punishment all the time and a country thats gone Politically Mad, people like this never have a single reason to get off their backsides and contribute to society.
All this is done on the back of increased taxes (mostly of which are stealth taxes) of decent, law abiding, tax paying citizens!

Sorry for the rant, but catching these people won't do an ounce of good in the long run....
We need change. A change that gives a prevention, not a pathetic half baked resolution and a sob story about their addiction to drink or drugs.

Matt, I would imagine your insurance would cover some form of replacement transport, while a replacement bike is sourced?

If not - what is it that is preventing you from purchasing a replacement motorized bike with the payout?

Surely any dispute with a supplier at the time of purchase would be irrelevant when you're about to part with more money into their company, irrespective of past problems?

If you could elaborate on this, perhaps some suggestions or representations to the bike company on your behalf could be made.

Whatever happens, I hope you get sorted out and don't let the inconveniences that these oxygen wasters have imposed on you destroy your morale.

Best Wishes

Pete”

“There low life then there's pure scum like these sort of people who've done this and i don't care what sort of deprived lives they may have come from its just pure thugery, And to Liza you should be ashame of your self.”

“matt as a personal friend of mine when you first told me i was shocked and disgusted at someone who was capable at doing such a thing to someone who did not deserve it.....i know how much your job means to you and you are truly a wonderful person if there is anything i can do to help just mention it.”

“It's nice to read peoples supportive comments, but why don't we do more. Hows about some of us with cars get together and help Matt out with transport back an to to work. I know it won't give him all his indipendance back but at least he can keep working.”

“Hello everyone, Its matt here, I have just read the comments that have been left in response to what has happened. Im really touched by them all, thank you it means a lot.

I have heard what this Liza has said and if im honest ill say let her say it. Im not the sort to get angry or annoyed at people and even the ones who took my bike I can only feel sorry for.

She is entitled to an opinion, and said her piece.

But to answer her the reason I placed this in the sentinel was for 3 reasons.

1) I hope to make people aware that this can happen to anyone at any time. The best I can do now is hope that people will realise this and take the necessary precautions to prevent it happening to themselves, put it in a garage, dont believe that a steering lock, chain and padlock will be enough, if they want it they WILL take it. It is the worse feeling in the world to lose something that is such a relief and aid to you.

2) Hopefully someone in the area will have seen or heard something and will be able to help me to find out who has done this. Sueing them would give me at least one bit of joy.

3) Hopefully the authorities will read this and do something about getting CCTV installed in more areas.

I took it on myself to question neighbours and not one of them have a CCTV even though one has had his van burned out side his home not long before.

Once again thank you everyone”

“This is awful. A young man who is determined to work and not sponge off the state (unlike probably the families of the scum who stole his bike) and this happens. Isn't there a business out there who could replace his bike as a good will gesture? Or couldn't the Sentinel set up a fund for readers to donate to so that when things like this happen, we can make things better? When is the law going to toughen up in this country and punish wrong doers properly?”

“Yes his premiums will go up, he may never be able to afford insurance until over 25. Its his first bike, he;s only held insurance since March. His excess is £500 and to insure it cost £400 - why should he be £900 out of pocket? Liza, you got the responses you wanted, you must just sit and look for stories to make stupid comments from for a living!

Matts Mum”

“Liza: Matt is a relative of mine and as such I can assure you that he would not be telling his story just to see what he can get out of it!!! Your comments are innapropriate and very cruel. Lets hope that something like this never happens to you.”

“The retarded little scumbags who did this are, no doubt, really proud of themselves. I feel sorry for them if the only pleasure that they can find in life comes from destroying other peoples property.

In the meantime, Liza, your comment was pathetic and childish. If that is the best that you can come up with please do everyone a favour and stay quiet.”